You can connect with our Judges Education Coordinator,

 Lorraine Duffy. 

She will be happy to help with

practice judging and she has some great study

 materials to share!

You will find some of her

study materials

in the RESOURCE section

under Judging Aids

located 

in the tabs on the left.

 

You can reach Lorraine at:

Lorraineduffy02@gmail.com

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​

PRACTICE JUDGING

  Practice judging will be a huge asset to your preparation.

Practice Judging, sometimes referred to as shadowing,

consists of a new or potential judge sitting with the judging

panel and practicing scripting and applying deductions.

Your score will not count toward the average and you

should not announce your score.

  These can happen before and/or after you test.

​

When you find a meet you would like to practice

judge, let Co-SJD's Debbie or Linda

(CTnawgj@gmail.com) know and will contact the

Meet Director and get approval that you may attend.

​

During the competition, you will not be able to ask questions

or discuss routines with the judging panel.

This regulation is in place because the judges must keep

the pace of the meet moving along and any extra

distractions or conversations will jeopardize that.

However, please be sure to make notes of any questions

that arise so that you can discuss with the judging panel

at the completion of the competition. They will be happy

to help you! You will be able to hear or see the average

score to compare with your own. In addition, you may

hear any discussion between the judges should they find

themselves out of range- all very interesting and

educational stuff!

​

When shadowing, it is advisable that you choose a squad

and rotate with them so that you can practice judge on

all events. If you are doing more than 1 session and feel

you need more practice on certain events, you are welcome

to repeat events after your first all-around session.

Many people feel they need more practice at

uneven bars which is totally normal!

​

Please note, you must be current with your NAWGJ

and USAG professional memberships, safety certification

and have an up-to-date background check to be allowed

on the competition floor for practice judging.

Please also note that there is no payment, travel reimbursement,

or per diem for practice judging.

​

When shadowing, judges or potential judges are expected

to learn and abide by all Rules and Policies, Codes of Conduct

, and Cannons set forth by NAWGJ and NAWGJ CT.

These include:

• Dressing professionally (navy blue or black dress pants,

• white shirt, and blazer or sweater (local meets)

• Arriving at the report time (if you are not practice

• judging the first session, you should arrive 30 minutes

• prior to the start of the session you are practice judging 

• Remain at the event you are stationed until the

• completion of the rotation/session

​

TESTING

It is encouraged that you “test  up” ASAP so that you can be

assigned to more meets. Most local meets will consist of a

wide range of levels, requiring judges with the rating

applicable to the highest level athletes competing

. Contact your mentor for help studying and guidance

in regards to testing.​

​

Happy Judging!

​

​

​

Are you interested in becoming a Mentor?

Just let Debbie and Linda know!

By becoming a mentor, you will be providing valuable

assistance to new judges in Connecticut.  Mentors help

new judges with the following:

 

PRACTICE JUDGING

Help your mentee find opportunities to practice judge.

It is NOT mandatory that mentees practice judge with

their mentor every single time.

However, the mentor will help facilitate the practice judging

sessions by doing the following:

• Call or email the meet director to request permission

• for your mentee to attend to practice judge.

• There is a limit of 2 practice judges per session,

• so you may told that your mentee cannot attend if it is

• already full. Practice judging CAN occur during 1 or more

• sessions. The more practice, the better!

• Connect the meet ref with the mentee prior to the

• competition. Be sure the meet ref is aware that a

• new judge will be coming to shadow PRIOR to the meet.

 

CHECK-IN

Email, text, or call regularly to provide support,

encouragement, and answer any questions.

These check-ins are also a great opportunity to encourage

and follow-up on practice judging sessions.

​​

​

ENCOURAGE TO TEST UP

Please remind your mentee to test up as soon as they are comfortable so that they can get assigned to more meets!

 

HELP STUDY!

We are have experience with how overwhelming studying to

test-up can be as a new judge.  Help your mentee feel

confident by pairing up to help them study.

You can offer tips and advice on how to tackle skill values,

special requirements, etc.

 

PARTNER UP

On your mentee’s first official assignment, do your best

to arrange so that you can judge with your mentee.

This will require some coordination! Communicate about

your schedules and assignments, and contact the

NAWGJ-CT Assignors to see if you can be put on

the same event. If it is not possible to be on the same meet,

please arrange a proxy.

​

Interested mentors can contact Co-SJD's Debby and Linda at

Ctnawgj@gmail.com

​

Happy Mentoring!!

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